Container for carbon paper



March 28, 1950 Filed Oct. 19, 1946 F., GYIANNINOTO com-Arum FOR cmou PAPER 7 //v mv TOR NAG/A N 070 A TTORNA'Y 2 Sheeis-Sheqt 1 March 28, 1950 GlANNlNOTo 2,502.214

CONTAINER" FOR CARBON PAPER Filed Oct. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR FRA NA 6 /A NN/NO TO Patented Mar. 28, 1950 CONTAINER FOB CARBON PAPER Frank Giannlnoto, Jackson Heights, N. Y., as-

signor to Underwoodaflorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 19, 1946, Serial No. 704,389

7 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes or containers for packaging carbon paper and for holding supplies of such paper in or on the desk of the user.

Carbon paper of the type used in typewriting work is thin, delicate, unsubstantial and diflicult to handle. A reserve supply of unused carbon sheets in stacked arrangement is usually kept by the typist in a folder in her desk and the sheets are liable to become damaged by contact with other articles. The thin sheets frequently adhere and it is difficult to separate a single sheet from the remainder of the pack. The used sheets are ordinarily placed loosely in a drawer of the desk in association with other stationary or supplies so that they are not held fiat and are liable to become wrinkled, dogeared and torn.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved container for unused carbon sheets which will hold the sheets in stacked arrangement and protect them from being wrinkled or torn and which will enable the sheets readily to be withdrawn singly from the container.

Another object of the invention is to produce a package for sheets of carbon paper having a compartment for unused sheets and a compartment for used sheets in which the used sheets will be held in a flat condition and efliciently protected against being wrinkled, torn or otherwise injured, and, at the same time, will be readily accessible when wanted for use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a container embodying the novel and improved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating a container embodying the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the construction therein shown.

In the drawings: .1

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention, with certain of the outer walls partly broken away and showing a stack of unused carbon sheets in the container,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container, with the container inverted as compared with Fig. 1 and with the cover for the compartment for holding used sheets in open position,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing the closing flap for the compartment for unused carbons in closed position and secured in position by a suitable seal,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the container with the cover for the compartment for used carbons in closed position,

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but with the closing flap for the compartment for unused carbons in closed position,

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section of the container taken substantially on the line 8-6 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating a blank from which the container may be formed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings of this application, the container comprises an envelope-like compartment for the unused sheets of carbon paper and a folder-like compartment for the used sheets. The container is made of one or more sections of relatively heavy paper or relatively light cardboard cut to the required shape and dimensions and folded to form the two compartments.

The compartment for the pack of unused sheets of carbon paper comprises a relatively wide outer wall 2, a relatively wide inner wall 4, two relatively narrow side walls 6 and 8 connecting the side margins of the walls 2 and l and a relatively narrow end wall Ill connecting an end of the wall 2 with a corresponding end of the wall 4. The walls 2 and 4 preferably each has an area slightly larger than the area of the sheets of carbon paper to be placed in the compartment, the dimensions of these walls corresponding with the dimensions of said sheets. The width of the two side walls 6 and 8 and that of the end wall III is determined by the thickness of the stack of carbon sheets to be placed in this compartment. Another end wall I2 is formed by an extension on an end of the wall 4 and attached to this wall I! is a closing flap l4 arranged to extend over the outer wall 2 when the end wall l2 and the flap are in closed positions as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The width of the end wall l2 corresponds with the width of the end wall III.

The several walls of the envelope-like compartment above described form an enclosure having substantially parallel inner and outer walls 2 and l substantially parallel side walls 6 and 8 substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer walls and an end wall 10 substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer walls. The end wall I! also is located in position substantially perpendicular to the walls 2 and 4 when the compartment is closed.

Within the compartment thus formed is placed a holder for a stack of carbon sheets correspond- .ing in dimensions to the dimensions of the compartment. This holder consists of a section of relatively heavy paper or light cardboard out to the required dimensions and folded into the de sired shape.

The paper holder comprises an inner stiffening sheet or leaf l6 arranged to underlie the stack of carbon sheets indicated at l6 and an outer leaf or sheet 20 arranged to overlie the stack. The stiffening leaves [6 and 20 are connected by an intermediate portion 22 of the sheet material of which said leaves are formed which preferably constitutes an integral extension of the inner ends of said leaves.

The inner leaf [6 of the holder preferably has substantially the same area and dimensions as the stack of sheets located in the holder. The leaf 20 has substantially the same width as the leaf l6 but is made much shorter than the latter leaf to leave a considerable portion of the carbon sheets in the holder exposed when the holder is partially withdrawn from the compartment of the container therefor. The greater dimension of the intermediate portion 22 of the holder preferably is the same as the width of the leaves 2 and 4. The lesser dimension of said portion 22 corresponds with the thickness of the stack to be placed in the holder.

The holder is formed with a relatively narrow tongue 24 extending from one end of the sheet I6. This tongue is arranged to be bent outwardly into a plane substantially perpendicular to the sheet l6 to extend across the adjacent ends of the sheets of the stack l6 and the outer portion of the tongue is arranged to be bent into a plane substantially parallel with the sheets of the stack so as to overlap the stack as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The wall 2 of the compartment for unused sheets is cut away as indicated at 25 to render the tongue and the carbon sheets in the holder more readily accessible to the user. The length of the tongue preferably is such that, when the holder is completely inside its compartment, the end of the tongue 24 underlies the adjacent portion of the wall 2 and said wall thereby tends to hold said tongue in position.

The holder with the stack of carbon sheets contained therein is arranged to slide longitudinally in the compartment therefor in the container and is normally located in the position shown in Fig. 1 completely inside the compartment. When a sheet of carbon paper is to be removed from the holder, the holder is slid longitudinally partially out of the compartment to expose the portions of the sheets of carbon extending be- I yond the leaf 26 of the holder and the tongue 24 is bent. back to enable the sheets to be re- 'moved from the holder. The exposed portions of one or more carbon sheets are then lifted by the operator and these sheets are drawn longitudinally out of the holder leaving the remaining .sheets in the holder. The tongue 24 is then foldedback on the exposed'portions of the sheets and the holder is slid back into the compartment into the position shown in' Fig. 1. The

wrinkledjtorn or otherwise damaged, are retained in a smoothfiat condition and may be quickly and easily removed from the container in the manner above described.

The folder-like compartment for holding sheets of used carbon paper is formed, in part, by the inner wall 4 of the compartment for the unused carbon sheets. the wall 4 forming a common wall for both compartments.

The compartment for the used sheets comprises a second wall 26, hinged to the wall 8 to swing substantially about the axis 28 and forming a cover for the compartment. The wall 26 of the latter compartment is connected with the wall 4 of the first compartment by means of an extension strip 30 on said wall 4 which is applied in superposed relation to the inner margin of the wall 26 and is attached to the wall 26 preferably by means of any suitable adhesive.

The wall 26 is normally folded inwardly against the wall 4. In order to hold the wall 26 in position during shipment of the container, the container is provided with retaining slots 32 into which the corners of the wall 26 are inserted as shown in Fig. 4. In the use of the container for holding used carbon sheets, the sheets, indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, are placed upon the wall 4 in substantially the position shown in this figure and the cover wall 26 is closed down upon the same. The used carbons in this compartment are thus securely protected from being wrinkled or torn or otherwise injured and are held in a smooth flat condition. This results in increasing considerably the length of service of the sheets.

Fig. '7 shows a blank from which the container may be easily and conveniently formed from a sheet of relatively heavy paper or light cardboard by cutting the blank from the sheet, folding the parts into the desired positions and securing the same together. The blank shown in Fig. '7 comprises three main panels 4a, 2a and 26a corresponding respectively to the relatively wide walls of the container. The panels 2a and 4a are separated by a relatively narrow strip 6a corresponding to the wall 6 of the container and the panels 26a and 2a are separated by a relatively narrow strip 6a corresponding to the wall 6 of the container. The blank is formed with a narrow strip 30a forming an extension at one side of the panel 4a which is attached to the wall 26a in the completed container. The blank is arranged to be folded along the lines 36, 38 and 40 in forming the container.

The blank is formed with a relatively narrow strip Illa forming an extension at one end of the panel 2a and corresponding to the wall In of the container. Extending outwardly from the strip I 0a is a relatively narrow strip 42 arranged to overlap the adjacent end of the panel 4a when the parts are folded into final positions. This narrow portion 42 of the blank is formed with slots 44 arranged to receive tongues 46 formed on and extending from one end of the panel 4a. The parts of the blank are arranged to be folded along the lines 48 and 50 in forming the com pleted container.

The blank is formed with a'relatively narrow strip I 2a extending from one-end of the panel 4a and arranged to .form' one end wall of the compartment forunused carbons when the compartment is closed. Extending outwardly from the strip I2d is a portion 14a constructed to form the closing flap [4. The blank is arranged to be folded along the lines 52 and 54 in forming the completed container. d

To facilitate folding, the blank may be creased along the lines 36, 38, 40, 48, 50, 52 and 54.

In making the container from a blank cut and creased as shown in Fig. '7, the blank is folded along the lines 36, 38 and 46 in the manner shown in Fig. 6 untilthe narrow strip 30a is located inside the panel 26a in superposed relation to the inner margin of said panel, with the line It adjacent the line 40 upon which the panel 28a is hinged and the strip 30a is attached to the panel 28a preferably by an adhesive. The blank is then folded along the lines 48 and S in the manner shown in Fig. 5, until the strip lOa is located substantially perpendicular to the panel 2a and the strip 42 overlaps the margin of the panel 4a underneath the tongues 46. The end portions of the tongues are then pushed through the slots 44 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to hold the strip la in position.

The portions Ma and Ma are then folded along the lines 52 and 54 to complete the formation of the container.

When the container is to be used, the flap l4 and the end wall 12 preferably are torn off and the container is placed in a drawer of the user's desk or on the top of the desk. If one or more unused sheets are to be withdrawn from the container, the container is placed in the desk drawer or on the desk with the compartment for used sheets upon the underside as shown in Fig. 1. The holder containing the unused sheets is then drawn partly out of the container, the required number of sheets are drawn from the holder and the holder is then pushed back into its compartment in the container.

If the used sheets of carbon are to be removed from the container, the container is placed in the desk drawer or on the top of the desk with the compartment for unused sheets upon the underside as shown in Fig. 2 and the cover 26 is then lifted to enable the used sheets to be removed.

Containers such as that shown and described in this application may be used in shipping stacks of carbon sheets. When the container is used for this purpose, the closing flap I4 is folded over on the wall 2 of the container and is secured in closed position preferably by a seal 56, as shown in Fig. 3.

The container for carbon sheets above described is comparatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and will emciently protect both the unused and the used sheets of carbon paper from being torn, wrinkled or otherwise injured while in the drawer of the user's desk or upon the top of the desk and are kept in a smooth flat condition until withdrawn from the container. The construction is such that both the unused sheets and the used sheets of carbon may be quickly and easily removed from the container when they are required for use.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and having specifically described a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed is:

1. A container for carbon paper made of relatively heavy paper or similar material and provided with a compartment having two relatively wide opposed inner and outer walls, two relatively narrow side walls and a relatively narrow end wall and arranged to hold unused sheets of carbon paper. a flap forming an extension on one of the wide walls of said compartment and foldedto form a relatively narrow end wall and extending beyond the latter end wall to overlap the opposite wide wall of said compartment. tongues 0n the last mentioned wide wall arranged to extend over said overlapping portion of said extension and interlocking therewith and a panel hinged to one of the wide walls and arranged to swing into a position immediately adjacent the same to form a folder-like compartment having one wall in common with the first compartment and arranged to hold used sheets of carbon paper.

2. A blank for forming a. container having a compartment for a stack of unused sheets of carbon paper and a compartment for used sheets comprising two main panels occupying outer position on the blank and a third main panel located intermediately' between said first two panels, said main panels each having an area and corresponding dimensions slightly greater than the carbon sheets to be placed in the container to form the upper and lower walls of the two compartments, two relatively narrow strips each located between and directly connected to an outer panel and the intermediate panel to form side walls of the first compartment, a relatively narrow strip at the outside of one of the outer panels for attachment to the other outer panel, a relatively narrow strip at one end of one of said panels to form an end wall to the first compartment and a second relatively narrow strip at the opposite end of one of said panels to form the opposite end wall of the first compartment.

3. A container for carbon paper, comprising a sheet of relatively heavy paper or similar material cut and folded to form a compartment having two relatively wide spaced inner" and outer walls, two relatively narrow side walls, at least one relatively narrow end wall and having a relatively narrow opening between adjacent margins of the wide walls and between the corresponding margins of the side walls for the insertion edgewise of a relatively thick stack of unused sheets of carbon paper and a relatively wide wall hinged substantially at the juncture of one of the other wide walls and a narrow wall to swing over against the latter wide wall and forming therewith a folder-like compartment arranged to hold sheets of used carbon paper.

4. A container for carbon paper made of relatively heavy paper or similar material and pro vided with a compartment having two spaced inner and outer main walls, the dimensions of which are greater than the correspondin dimensions of the carbon paper sheets to be placed in the container, two relatively narrow side walls, at least one relatively narrow end wall and having a relatively narrow! opening between adjacent margins of the main walls and between the corresponding margins of the side walls for the insertion of a relatively thick stack of unused sheets of carbon paper and a third main wall. the dimensions of which also are greater than the corresponding dimensions of the carbon sheets. hinged substantially at the juncture of one of the other main walls and a narrow wall to swing over against the latter main wall and forming therewith a folder-like compartment arranged to hold sheets of used carbon paper.

5. A box for holding sheets of carbon paper made of relatively heavy paper or similar material and provided with a compartment having two relatively wide inner and outer walls, two relatively narrow side walls and a relatively narrow fixed end wall and a relatively narrow open-- in: at the end opposite said end wall, all arranged to hold a relatively thick stack of unused sheets of carbon paper insertible in and removable from the compartment by sliding the same edgewise through said opening and a folder formed by one of the relatively wide walls of said compartment and a cover hinged substantially at the juncture of the latter wide wall and a narrow wall to swing over against said wide wall when the folder is empty and forming a compartment arranged to hold used sheets of carbon paper.

6. A container for carbon paper made of relatively heavy paper or similar material and provided with a compartment havingtwo relatively wide spaced inner and outer walls, two relatively narrow side walls, a relatively narrow end wall, a relatively narrow opening between adjacent margins of the wide walls and between the corresponding margins of the narrow walls, a relatively narrow wall hinged to one of the wide walls to close said opening and a folder formed by one of the wide walls of said compartment and a panel hinged substantially at one edge to swing about an axis located substantially at the juncture of one of said wide walls and a narrow wall to swing over against said wide wall when the folder is empty and forming a compartment for unused carbon sheets.

7. A container for carbon paper made of relatively heavy paper or similar material and provided with a compartment having two relatively wide spaced inner and outer walls, two relatively narrow side walls, at least one relatively narrow end wall and having a relatively narrow opening between adjacent margins of the wide walls and 8 between the corresponding margins of the end wall, a slide constructed to hold a thick stack of unused sheets of carbon paper and arranged to be inserted in and removed from said compartment by sliding the same edgewise through said opening and a relatively wide wall hinged substantially at the juncture of one of the other wide walls and a narrow wall to swing over against said wide wall and forming therewith a folder-like compartment arranged to hold sheets of used carbon paper.

FRANK GIANNINOTO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,685,798 Armstrong Oct. 2, 1928 1,769,719 Smith July 1, 1930 1,805,371 Molins May 12, 1931 2,019,802 Sprouli Nov. 5, 1935 2,298,594 Rueger Oct. 13, 1942 2,343,277 Clark Mar. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 464,373 Great Britain, Apr. 16, 1937 

